I'm not saying that you're wrong in how this works, I'm saying that the whole process is wrong and you don't fix it by saying that's just how it is. Something has to change as once again money is ruining the game. Agents are the big problem.
sure but its not LFC's job nor southamptons job to fix it.
Nor is it the premier league.
frankly what is occurring is naivety at LFC in the form of michael "i don't know what i'm doing" edwards and jurgen "i'm a coach" klopp contacted a player in the same way as any club outside England would do and southampton decided to use the premier league rules
the reality is they can do what they did on van dijk with salah with total immunity.
the sad fact is theres to much of a gravy train for fifia and uefa to stop this happening.
The simple rules of the game are:
1. Contracts are contracts. you are legally obliged to fulfil one.
2. Rules outside that are private football rules and have zero standing legally really. If I want to head hunt a persons in a job you go contact them. quite simple .There is a little rule about timing to talk to someone.
a good example of this is Joel Matip. He was talked to virtually form the time Klopp was appointed and announced his signing on a free very early in that january. was there a complaint NOPE
Mcmanaman did the same to us. any grounds to complain ... nope
the fact is the only difference here is southampton didn't want to sell cos they know where they are going if they do.. down the pan. they have prob been the ones leaking higher after higher fees to put people off and as saints fans point out... they have a contract so don't need to sell
the FEAR is van dijk will pull a lovren next, refuse to play.. or slap in transfer request etc etc.. once city and cheslea were not showing real interest that left LFCto offer the 40 odd mil and southampton then lose power.
By complaining southampton have got a weak LFC recruitment staff to pony up a no interest line which means van dijk as the play for them and not pull that lovren move. thats all well and good but as I said next guy along won't be so quick to sign up.
Its like this:
southampton are not man utd. they can't afford to pull a de gea stunt cos they can't offer the mad wages or euope etc etc. they are not even spurs who pulled that modric ****e.
I'm fairly sure a deal will have to be done at some point quietly with van dijk now to ensure he plays his best for 12 months or whatever so he gets a move to wherever next year... but remember this is costing the player massive money. he is on about 65k a week and so is looking at about 130k a week loss.. over 12 months only thats 6.75mil (before tax)
the player could be very sore and his agent WILL be very sore. I think he will end up at city before the end of this window.
btw.. saints signed him for 13mil, gave him a new deal 8 months later and a pay rise under koeman and then koeman ****ed off. Maybe the player already felt jipped... who knows
